Reviews the basic concepts used in commercial package design, and relates these to the problem of providing adequate protection for paintings in transit. Discusses three fundamental parameters of package design: the fragility of the object, the shipping environment, and the selection of appropriate cushioning material. Relatively little information exists on the fragility of paintings or other artifacts at this time, but a large amount of data on the shipping environment and cushioning materials is available. The article describes current research under way to determine the sensitivity of paintings and other artifacts to shock and vibration. The ultimate goal of this research is to provide conservators and other museum professionals with a better understanding of the fragility of objects in their care, to assist in making decisions concerning the suitability of these artifacts for travel.